"UAE Before 1971"

Before its re-creation as the United Arab Emirates in 1971, the UAE was known as the Trucial States, a collection of sheikhdoms extending from the Straits of Hormuz to the west along the Persian Gulf. It wasn’t a country so much as an expanse of loosely defined tribal groups spread out over some 32,000 square miles (83,000 sq. km), about the size of the state of Maine Prior to 1971, the Trucial Sheikdoms of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah, and Ras al-Khaimah were under a British protectorate. As such, the Untied States had a very limited relationship with the sheikdoms. Relations became more regular when these sheikdoms formed the United Arab Emirates and gained independence in 1971. Since then, relations became more regular and have grown stronger over the years.


"UAE Before and Now"

Do you know who established UAE?
This was agreed between two of the most influential Trucial Rulers, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai. The two invited other Trucial Rulers to join the Federation.

BRITISH RULE:

The Trucial States – which were a collection of independent Sheikdom's – formed a close bond with the British Government by signing a treaty in 1892. While the Trucial States were not officially absorbed into the British Empire, they became a British Protectorate. This meant the British would defend them from all aggressions, be it land or sea. In return, the Trucial States weren’t allowed to sell any land to another country without Britain’s permission. It offered security for both parties.


  • Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, 1972.

Diplomatic relations were established on March 20, 1972, when American Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary William A. Stoltzfus, Jr. presented his credentials to the government of the United Arab Emirates. Stoltzfus was also accredited to a number of other Persian Gulf states and he resided in Kuwait. 

  • Establishment of the American Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, 1974.

The United States Embassy in Abu Dhabi was established on June 24, 1974, when the first American Ambassador in residence, Michael Edmund Sterner, presented his credentials to United Arab Emirates’ officials. 

Pre-oil era:


"PRE-OIL ERA"

Pearling was the well-documented trade of the Trucial States up to the 1920s, with a large percentage of the population relying on it for their livelihoods. The industry began to decline after the First World War, and wasn’t helped further by the Great Depression in 1929. Industrial methods of manufacturing pearls by such countries as Japan eventually saw the industry die out completely. After the Second World War, with the pearling industry dead, the Trucial States went through a time of hardship, but it wasn’t long before things started to look up.

Before oil discovery, the UAE depended on a subsistence economy with families relying on natural resources to provide for basic needs, through pearl diving and agriculture. Dr Fatima Al Sayegh, professor of history at UAE University, said back in the days, Emirati families produced just what they needed. "In the past, it was a simple village life. Palm trees were used to provide dates as food for the family. Palm tree branches were used to build the house roofs. Tree trunks supported tents and flooring of dwellings were made by woven palm leaf strips," said Al Sayegh. In the past, the small houses of low roofs were close to each other where families got their milk and cheese from cows and goats, and their water from a well, But the life change in UAE didn't happen overnight. Al Sayegh described the UAE progress as a gradual process. 

Discovery of oil:




In the early 1960s, oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi, an event that led to quick unification calls made by UAE leaders in 1971. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became the ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, and the British started losing their oil investments and contracts to US oil companies. Despite oil companies starting the search for oil before the outbreak of the Second World War, it wasn’t until 1958 when the first oil well was discovered. The location was Umm Shaif, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, as well as onshore in the desert area of Murban soon after. Oil exports began in 1962, and both Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai quickly set about improving the lives of their people by building schools, houses, and hospitals.

Independence and the beginning of union:


Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, and in the same year Britain concluded that it could no longer afford to protect the Trucial States. Then-British Prime Minister Harold Wilson of the Labour Party confirmed on January 24, 1968 that Britain would be withdrawing its defences. Despite efforts to keep British forces in the area, Shaikh Zayed knew that the best and safest way forward was to form a union with neighboring Trucial States. Since then, the UAE has been a sovereign nation, enjoying the profits of its natural resources—its reserves of oil and natural gas are the seventh-largest in the world, and it has the seventh-highest GDP per capita. This wealth has turned the Emirates into a major hub of trade, travel, tourism and finance. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world, is emblematic of the Emirates’ dramatic construction boom and rise to global prominence. Though its cities are some of the most modern in the world, the nation remains a monarchy governed by religious law—its president and prime minister are the absolute monarchs of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively, and apostasy, homosexuality and even kissing in public are punishable by law.